Download Guide
Office design plays a pivotal role in your business's success. It influences employee productivity, engagement, and collaboration while also shaping the perception of your business by clients and customers.
Unfortunately, many office design concepts prioritise appearance over functionality. While a visually appealing office is important, it must also be practical.
Need some inspiration? Here are 10 office interior design ideas that blend style and functionality, complete with real-world examples of how Studio DB can help you turn your work areas into highly productive spaces for collaboration and creativity.
In recent years, there's been a shift towards creating diverse work environments. Working from home has shown the benefits of having spaces for focused tasks and moments of relaxation.
Retreat rooms in the office offer similar benefits, providing areas where employees can recharge. These dedicated spaces, distinct from the main office, offer comfort and variety.
User-centric design is crucial. Retreat spaces should accommodate neurodiverse employees, with careful attention to acoustics and lighting. Ideally, these spaces should be away from the office's busy core to encourage use.
Bringing nature into the office with biophilic design can significantly reduce stress and enhance well-being. This approach uses natural materials, ample natural light, and greenery to reconnect employees with nature, boosting creativity and peace of mind.
Biophilic design also considers how employees use the space, promoting movement and offering varied settings for different tasks, from collaboration to focused work.
Agile working promotes flexible hours and hybrid locations, requiring an adaptable workspace. Agile design is growing in popularity because it enhances collaboration, productivity, and staff retention.
Modularity is central to this approach. It involves reconfigurable spaces and adaptive furniture that can be easily adjusted to meet changing needs. This flexibility allows for diverse working environments, accommodating both individual tasks and collaborative sessions. By offering various settings, businesses can support different work styles and preferences.
Omada is a fresh addition to Christchurch's co-working scene.
It derives its name from the Greek word for "group" or "bunch of friends," aiming to create a balanced space where like-minded individuals can collaborate, connect, and focus. The goal was to integrate Omada's brand and values to ensure a positive experience for all users.
Solution: Studio DB embraced the challenge, designing a flexible environment that catered to various work styles. The space includes a business lounge for networking and private offices for focused tasks. This design encourages productivity and engagement, reflecting Omada's purpose of bringing people together with a common goal.
Outcome: The result is a dynamic co-working space where innovators and creators thrive. Omada offers an environment that supports business growth, from solo entrepreneurs to larger teams, fostering a community of ambition and success.
This project highlights the importance of aligning brand and physical space. By embracing agility, we worked with the client to create a cohesive and agile workspace. Studio DB ensured that Omada's users can have productive and inspiring days at the office, no matter where they are. View the project here.
Collaborative work environments boost productivity by 50%, reduce turnover, improve satisfaction, and prevent workplace failures. For businesses relying on collaboration, this is essential.
Transition from fixed desks to open layouts. If partitions are needed, use adaptable screens or sliding walls. Create reliable collaboration spaces in transitional areas to support spontaneous employee interactions and tasks. By embracing these strategies, businesses can foster a more collaborative and productive workplace.
A strong brand makes a lasting impression on clients and visitors and offers significant internal benefits. Research shows it can reduce staff turnover by 28%, cut recruitment costs by 50%, and enhance application quality.
To show your brand in the office is crucial, especially in creative industries. This can range from bold elements like neon signs to subtle touches like brand-coloured accents throughout the space.
Office design doesn't always need to be complex. Simple touches, like high-quality finishes such as marble inlays or brass door handles, can showcase attention to detail and luxury.
Adding premium details is an approach that benefits your brand by associating luxury elements with your business, products, and services. It also improves employee experiences, boosting morale and potentially enhancing productivity.
One of the top office design trends is encouraging movement to avoid employees staying in assigned areas, which can create isolated silos and hinder knowledge sharing.
This issue, known as ‘nesting,’ affects both social and professional dynamics.
To counter this, encourage movement through configuration. Strategically space different teams, departments, and facilities to promote cross-disciplinary interactions and foster a more dynamic and collaborative environment.
Wayfinding is a brilliant way to guide movement through your office, creating a clear journey for visitors and employees. Subtle details like colour can be highly effective.
LED lighting is another great option.
Hospitality-led design, or ‘hotelification,’ applies hotel principles to offices, creating welcoming and aesthetically pleasing spaces. Start with a thoughtfully designed welcome area at the front of the office to greet guests without them navigating the entire space. Incorporate comfortable seating, brand touchpoints, and amenities like a coffee station to impress clients and prospective employees.
Flexible social spaces, such as a boardroom with folding doors, can transform from formal meeting rooms to elegant event spaces, enhancing functionality and appeal.
Employee engagement is crucial in office design. Gallup reports that engaged workforces see 17% higher productivity and 21% higher profitability.
Multi-functional social hubs boost engagement and optimise functionality. These spaces should be the office's vibrant centre, fostering relationships that drive the business.
Create adaptable areas like tea points for all-hands meetings or event-friendly staircases, as seen in Studio DB’s work at Internet NZ. The two levels are divided into a client-facing area for events and collaboration, and a private space for the team to retreat and focus on their work.
Working with Studio DB means embracing a future where office space designs create inspiring environments that nurture creativity and boost productivity. With Studio DB, your office becomes a statement of your commitment to your employees, your brand, and a sustainable world.
Contact us today and let’s chat about how Studio DB can help you elevate your business.
Our thinking
Tell us what’s on your mind. Give us a call or send an email. Whatever works best.
